English Language Arts    

Our ELA classes were designed to meet during two class periods daily in order to cover all of the Reading, Writing, Language Arts, and Speaking & Listening standards. The classes do not meet consecutively in order to provide a bit of a brain break in between sessions. Sometimes the second class period will be a continuation of the previous class period and sometimes we’ll start with brand new content. 

The fifth grade curriculum is taught using a variety of different books and novels. We are also utilizing the Grammar Workshop textbook, as well as a couple of stories out of the Reading Wonders text. As a result of using many different resources, I have allotted space in the classroom for students to keep textbooks in the room so they aren’t taking up prime locker real estate. The books we will be reading in fifth grade this year include: 

  • Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

  • My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig

  • Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig

  • Restart by Gordon Korman

  • I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis

  • If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King by Ellen Levine

  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

  • Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

The eighth grade curriculum is taught using a combination of novels and the myPerspectives textbook by Pearson. Eighth grade students will also utilize the Grammar for Writing textbook series as we look to refine those skills and prepare for high school writing. We’ll also be working on graduation speeches toward the end of the year. All eighth grade students will have an opportunity to submit their speech to be chosen to read at the ceremony in May.  The novels that we will be reading in eighth grade this year include:

  • The Outsiders by SE Hinton

  • A Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

  • Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

  • The Watsons Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

  • Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (excerpt from textbook)

  • The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank (play version from textbook)

  • A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

  • Ghost by Jason Reynolds